Gage for plows.



No. 689,340. Patented Dec. l7, I901. W. H. WILSON.

GAGE FOR FLOWS.

A mmon filed may 10 1901 3 (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. WILSON, OF GROESBEGK, TEXAS.

GAGE FOR FLOWS.

SPEC F C N forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,340, dated December 17, 1901- I Application filed May 16, 1901. Serial No. 60,566. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. WILSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Groesbeck, in the county of Limestone and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gages for Plows, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gages for plows, and has for its object to provide animproved adjustable gage for regulating the depth at which the plow runs, which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, effective in operation, and which may be quickly and easily adjusted to any height desired.

To these ends my invention consists in the features and in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims following the description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plowstock with my improved gage applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the gage, the clamp, and a portion of the brace to Whic the gage is clamped.

In the drawingsIhave shown my improved gage applied to a plow-stock of ordinary construction comprising a plow-beam 1, handles 2, a standard 3, adapted to have attached thereto a plow-blade of any kind suitable for the purpose immediately in hand, and an inclined brace 4, attached at its lower end to the lower portion of the standard 3 and at its upper end bolted to the plow-beam. As before stated, the plow-stock is of ordinary and well-known construction and need not, therefore, be herein specifically described.

The numeral 5.indicates the gage, consist- 7 ing of a square shank 6, that terminates in a broad flat shoe or runner 7. As shown the shank is bent back toward the shoe or runner at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees, and the flattened'portion of the latter commences preferably at the point where the bend between the shank and runner be 'gives to the runner a broad flat blade-like shape that tapers or diminishes in width from a point intermediate its ends to its forward end.

The gage is adj ustably secured to the stock as follows: The numeral 8 indicates a clamp consisting of two flat metallic plates 9 9, bolted together at their centers by a bolt 10 and a nut 11. Said plates are of the same size and shape, and each preferably has the shape of a trapezoid. Each plate is provided at its opposite side edges with inwardly-projecting flanges 12, which extend from end to end of the plate, and centrally at its opposite ends the plate is provided with inwardly-projecting flanges 13 and 14, the ends of which are parallel with the adjacent flanges 12. When the two plates are bolted together, the flanges of one plate abut the corresponding flanges of the other plate, and the spaces between the side and end flanges form seats for the reception of the shank 6 of the gage and the brace 4. The flanges in the plates are of such height that when the plates are bolted together about the said shank and brace the latter will be tightly clamped between the plates and rigidly hold the gage in place.

It will be readily understood from the foregoing that when the gage is secured in place the runner 7 will be parallel with the bottom of the plow and will run along or over the surface of the soil and will regulate the depth to which the plow penetrates. By loosening the nut 11 the clamp may be vertically adjusted on the brace 4, thus raising or lowering the runner, so as to cause the plow to run shallower or deeper into the soil, and if the desired adjustment of the gage cannot be obtained in this manner a still greater range of adj ustmentmay be obtained by adjusting the shank of the gage in the clamp. The broad flat runner runs behind the plow and affords a firm support for the plow to run on to gage the depth of plowing and owing to its tapered form at its front end ofiers but slight resistance to the draft and effects an easy entrance of the runner in the track of the plow. The straight parallel sides of the runner offer a firm resistance to any lateral displacement of the runner in the soil and operate to aid in keeping the plow in a straight line and also resist the tendency of the stock to turn to one side when the plow encounters a bush, large Weed, or similar obstruction. Owing to the broad, fiat, and tapered formation of the run ner, it is adapted for working in all kinds of soil. By means of the clamps shown and described I am enabled to give to the gage a large range of adjustment, and the plow may be adjusted on the standard 3 to any point desired without interfering with the adjustment of the gage.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination with a plow-stock, of a gage arranged in rear of and in alinement with the standard and consisting of a flat run-.

ner and a shank bent upward and rearward from the runner at an angle to the latter, said runner tapering or gradually increasing in width from its front end to a point intermediate its ends and thence havinga uniform width to its rear extremity, and means for vertically nut for clamping said plates about said shank and brace, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

l VILLIAM H. WILSON.

Witnesses: v

B. J. WILLIAMs, HAM PATTERSON. 

